“Exactly. But there is a lot of turmoil in Trumbella's organization—”
“So even if Fagnelio doesn't talk, there'll always be the threat that he will one day reveal information about their organization that may lead to an indictment.”
His eyebrows furrowed into a tight knot. She was too…calm. “Yes, that's right.”
She laughed cynically. “Don't look so surprised, Jake. I told you when we first met that I research my books thoroughly. I know how this system works. I just never dreamed one day I’d be living the nightmare I created in my own novels.”
The room seemed enormous as she stepped away from him. Moving toward the huge conference table, she picked up a piece of paper and then calmly placed it back down on the polished surface without glancing at him. Without showing any emotion at all.
“Any way you look at it I'm the final piece of a series of ugly puzzles. Eliminating me is the one thing that will keep peace in Trumbella's clan and keep the dirty secrets of a rogue FBI agent quiet. I'm never going to get my life back, am I, Jake?”
Her sultry dark eyes lifted to meet his. He caught the slight tremble of her full lips.
“Cassie, someone needs to uncover enough information about Trumbella's organization to keep you from having to testify. That's the only way the heat will be taken off you.”
“Answer me,” she said with a small laugh that hinted of her inner hysteria.
“Maybe not,” he said quietly.
“And you knew that all along?”
He cleared his throat and looked directly at her. “I knew as soon as I heard Bellows was killed that something wasn't right.”
He lifted his arms and stepped toward Cassie, but she abruptly pushed back.
“No, Jake. It's okay.”
He cursed loudly, didn't care who was there to hear. “Cassie, I'm sorry—”
“It's okay,” she insisted. “You did what you had to do. You went one step further and even managed to do what the FBI couldn't do themselves. You saved my life.”
“You saved mine,” he reminded her quietly.
Her eyes drifted to his and she cocked her head to one side, offering him a weak smile.
“Then I guess we're even. No strings for either of us.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment before speaking. “I'm giving you the opportunity for a clean break. Giving you…your out.”
He jammed his fingers through his thick crop of hair and rested his hand at the nape of his neck. “What?”
“This break may have been forced by circumstance, but it was bound to happen eventually.”
When Jake didn't immediately understand, she continued.
“I had a lot of time in the hotel to hear the stories about Jake Santos and his women. You don't have to feel obligated to me now because I took things too seriously. That's my fault. I'll always be grateful for everything you did to save my life.”
Cassie's words were harder than a kick to the gut. “You think I'm blowing you off? After everything we've been through, that's what you really believe?”
Her shoulders slumped with the weight of her sigh. “Let's call it what it is, a natural end…to a difficult situation. A clean break.”
“And you're making it easy on me by letting me off the hook. Is that it?”
“Pretty much. I think that's the best way.”
“I think it sucks!”
Her determined expression faltered slightly. He had to admit he admired her for what she was trying to do. Still, he wanted no part of it.
“Don't make this any harder than it has to be.” Reaching up, Cassie kissed him softly on the lips. It wasn't the kind of kiss he'd expected or come to know from her. It surely wasn't what he wanted either. She didn't sink against him and mold into his arms or give up her heart and soul to him. This kiss was restrained, as if she'd shut herself off completely. As he put his arms around her to draw her ever closer, she slipped away from his embrace.
Jake grabbed at the tightness in his chest that threatened to choke the life out of him. He thought he'd die. Good Lord, what was happening to them?
“You listen to me, Cassie. No matter what happens, I want you to know that…” He swallowed hard. What could he say to her?
He hadn't said the words. He loved this woman with every beat of his heart, and he hadn't told her. He needed more time. They needed more time.
“Good-bye, Jake.”
The sting of her abrupt change left Jake shell shocked. Other women? Cassie wasn't just some other woman. She was special, incredible, like no one he'd ever met before in his life. She was Cassie, dammit, and he didn't want to be let off the hook.
“Cassie, I'm going to find the evidence—”
But she was gone already, quickly striding through the opening in the doorway Kevin had given her. His partner turned to him with a look of sympathy in his expression. Jake loathed his pity.
The walk into the corridor seemed surreal. Agents in blue pinstriped suits lined the hallway. Police, both in uniform and undercover, stood in their own groupings.
He searched the hallway, through the throng of people standing and moving about, for some sign of Cassie. There was none.
“She ran into the ladies room,” Charley said, placing her hand on his shoulder. He glanced at Charley and saw compassion in her eyes. “I take it she didn't take the news well.”
“Not particularly,” he ground out, heading toward the restroom, ready to plow through the U.S. marshal parked at the door.
“Jake, you can't go into the ladies room.”
“Want to see me?”
A stronger hand held him back, forcing him to swing around. Captain Russo gripped Jake hard by the upper arm. “Give her some space, Jake. She'll come around.”
He stared at the closed door Cassie had just fled behind. “She thinks I sold her out.”
“She needs some time,” Charley said. “I'll talk to her when we get to the safe house.”
It was like the air had been sucked out of the hallway. “You'll talk to her?”
“That's right.”
Confusion and anger whirled into one. “What about this team you're supposed to be heading up to investigate Angel Fagnelio and his cohorts? What about the Trumbella organization?”
Charley lifted her chin. “That will go on unabated, but with Agent Radcowski heading up the team instead of me.”
“I didn't sign on with Radcowski.”
“There's been a change of plans.”
“Since last night?”
She didn't answer his question, Jake noticed. In true Charlotte Tate form the ice woman forged on with the subject at hand.
“I thought it best if I guard Cassie until the trial. No one will know her whereabouts but me.”
“The only reason I agreed to let her out of my sight—”
“She'll still have the protection she needs, Detective.”
Captain Russo’s hand was gripping Jake's arm again. “Don't be stupid, Jake. It won't help Cassie to cause a scene. Come with me and we'll talk things through.”
Charley scanned the hall, then glanced at the door to the ladies room. “I think that's a good idea. I'm going to check on Cassie.”
“What the hell is going on here?” Jake roared, throwing his hands up in the air and charging toward the restroom door only to be held back by the captain.
“Knock it off, Jake,” Russo seethed. “Don't make me have to arrest you.”
Charley gave a hard look to Russo, then to Jake. “Great idea. Cuff him.”
* * *
Cassie splashed cold water on her face and glanced at her torn expression in the mirror. She needed the shock of the frigid water. She wouldn't cry. She refused to cry over Jake.
He wasn’t coming with her. Good Lord, she was truly alone. And what was worse, Cassie couldn't even go home to her own haven to lick her wounds. She was being forced back into hiding for God only knew how
long. Maybe forever.
She closed her eyes so she wouldn't see the tears that refused to hide themselves from her reflection in the mirror.
He didn't love her. She'd always known Jake was an honorable man, a knight in black leather armor when she'd needed him. He was a good cop, and, she thought with an ache in her heart, an incredible lover who'd awakened senses she never dreamed existed in her.
But he didn't love her. What did she expect? They'd only known each other a handful of days. This was her nightmare, not his. No one was telling him he couldn't walk out the door and go home. It wasn't fair for her to expect Jake to leave his family and friends to live in hiding with her.
What she’d shared with Jake had been real, special. For her anyway. And maybe on some level it had been real and special for Jake, too. Cassie wanted to believe that.
She wasn't the same woman she'd been before she met Jake. And now nothing would ever be the same again.
A dry laugh escaped her lips as she pulled a paper towel from the dispenser and brusquely wiped the water and tears from her face. The towel was abrasive against her cheek, but at least she could feel something other than the pain in her heart.
She thought of the irony. Before she'd met Jake, she tried so hard to keep her life in her control. It had made her dead inside to the point of ruining her relationship with other men.
Jake had changed all that. He'd opened her up, touched the marrow of her soul and made her feel again.
And she learned the one thing she couldn't control was her feelings. She loved Jake. And right now loving him hurt like hell.
A gust of wind blew into the confines of the small restroom as the door swung open. Agent Tate stood in the doorway in her navy pantsuit and flat-heeled boots.
“It's time, Cassie,” she said.
Cassie could hardly find her voice. “Where am I going?”
Charlotte closed the door and with surety in her step, walked over to the sink where Cassie was standing. She leaned a hip against the gold-flecked vanity before crossing her arms across her chest.
“I'm not quite sure yet,” she answered. “I haven’t worked out all the details. But I’ll make sure you’re as comfortable as you can possibly be outside of your own environment.”
Charlotte's honesty was laudable. Cassie needed honesty more than anything right now. Still she needed more. Everything she'd fought so hard for when Emilio died was disintegrating before her very eyes. Tossing the crumpled paper towel into the garbage pail, she straightened her spine and looked squarely at Charlotte.
“I want the truth. Is this nightmare ever going to be over?”
To her surprise, Charlotte's lips lifted to a genuine smile. “Yes, Cassie, it will. I have a feeling this will all be over very soon.”
#
Chapter Sixteen
“It should be me going with her. She thinks I've sold her out.” Jake peered over his shoulder as Captain Russo led him toward the stairwell.
He was numb. Cassie was gone. Or she would be as soon as Charley got hold of her. And that would be the end of it.
“Once things cool down, she'll understand.” Jake was barely aware of Russo's voice as he spoke.
Things never cool down with the mob. Cassie had said those words to him when this nightmare started. And she was right. Would she ever forgive him?
It didn't matter. Somehow he'd failed her. He should be the one hearing her voice every night and seeing her sunshine smile each and every morning. But it wasn't going to be him.
As they reached the door to the stairwell, Jake peered at the flurry of agents in the hallway. Kevin came running through the swarm of people. Jake ground himself to a stop to keep from going any further.
“Something doesn't feel right about all this, Kevin. Where's Radcowski?”
“I don't know. He brought Fagnelio to the bus but it's just sitting there.”
“Why are all these agents still here? I thought Charley wanted to keep Cassie’s transfer low profile?”
“Probably afraid of another screw up.” Russo shook his head impatiently. “It doesn't matter. It's out of our hands. Come on, Santos.”
Just as Jake was about to turn toward the doorway again, Cassie stepped out of the ladies room. His heart leaped. Her eyes were red and puffy as if she'd had a good cry. Her gaze locked with his and she smiled weakly, as if she'd forgiven him for failing her. He'd never forgive himself.
She walked up to them, seemingly unaware that his hands were bound behind his back. A flurry of U.S. marshal's motioned to each other and began to gather around.
“I'm ready,” she said. She was talking to Charley, but looking at Jake.
“I'll walk with you to the car,” Jake said. His arms ached to reach for her, to hold her and never let go. But he couldn't move them in the confines of the handcuffs binding his wrists.
Charley held up a hand and stepped between them, eyeing her warningly. “I'm afraid that's not possible.” She turned to Kevin after taking a quick glance up and down the hallway. “I thought Agent Radcowski was with you?”
“He said he wanted to see Fagnelio off, but the paddy wagon hasn't left yet.”
She darted a glance to Cassie. “I don't like hanging around in the hall like this. Let's go.”
Cassie didn't cry aloud as she turned away. Jake knew she'd wait until no one was looking.
“What the hell is this all about?” Kevin asked, noticing the handcuffs for the first time.
“Go with her, Kev,” Jake pleaded. There wasn't anything he could do. He hadn't felt so powerless since the day he and Tyler had been ambushed in that alley. Fear crawled under his skin as he tried to pull his hands free of their restraints, already knowing they wouldn't budge without the key.
Kevin just nodded. “I'll make sure she makes it off okay with Charley.” He headed toward the back door where they were leading Cassie.
To his credit, Captain Russo actually looked sympathetic. “I know it stinks, but you have to listen to me.”
But Jake wasn't listening. Instead, he stood paralyzed as Cassie took each step down the corridor. The back door opened to a heavy downpour, mirroring what he felt in his heart.
Someone popped an umbrella open and Cassie stepped out into the rain. Even through the downpour, Jake could see a horde of reporters rush forward to get their shot at their headlining news. A band of police officers forced them back. Flash bulbs went off furiously.
“Cassie.” He breathed her name more than said it. But now she was gone.
He hadn't been aware of how he'd been pushing forward against police officers and Captain Russo as they held him back. He was vaguely aware of being shoved into the stairwell and slammed against the cold hard wall. As his face connected with concrete, a stabbing pain shot up his jaw and cheek and blurred his vision for a moment. It took a second for his head to clear and the sharp pain in his face to ebb to a steady throb.
Cassie was gone. Good God Almighty, they'd taken her!
“Quit acting like an idiot, Jake,” Russo seethed. “Whatever you’re thinking you know, you're wrong.”
Jake blinked, trying to swing around to face the Captain, but Russo’s full weight pinned him against the wall. A second kick of adrenaline surged through him like a raging river.
“Charley was with Bellows the night of the shooting. Charley shot Bellows at Cassie's apartment. Now she's leaving with Cassie. Charley has to be the leak!”
“No.”
“Take off the cuffs, dammit!”
“Listen.”
“Not until you get me free.”
Russo slammed Jake against the concrete wall again and grabbed him by the upper shirt, holding him under his weight. The cold metal handcuffs bit into his wrists.
“Charley isn't the leak.”
“Why else would she have—”
“He killed my son, Jake. My boy. I had no choice.”
The raw emotion in Paul Russo's voice was unmistakable, heartbreaking. It matched the strength of his forc
e against Jake. He couldn't break free with the handicap of having his hands restrained behind his back.
“Who? What are you talking about?”
“Paulie might have taken those drugs that ended his life, but that dirtbag Fagnelio was responsible. He sold the drugs to Paulie. It was because of him my son had that monkey on his back all those years and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get it off. I tried so hard—”
“What does this have to do with Cassie?”
“I saw him the night of the shooting at Rory's. I watched Fagnelio get into that car and drive off. You told me you were going to meet him that night and I wanted to make damned sure he went.”
“You set me up?!”
“No! How could you think that? I wanted that slippery bastard to pay. Every time he'd been arrested, I thought he'd get his due for what he’d done to my boy and so many others. But he always managed to get away. Always. He was never going to pay for what he did to Paulie.”
“So you were tailing him?”
“I couldn't sleep at night thinking of what he did, so I watched him. Waiting for him to slip up. He's going to pay, Jake. He's going to pay!”
Russo's voice broke and his grip eased a fraction. It was enough for Jake to pull free from the wall and swing around. The captain's face was haunted, taking on a new degree of anger, one born of grief and revenge. Jake understood the kind of mad passion that had driven him. The same kind of grief and anger that had Angel Fagnelio hating Jake all these years. He'd make sure whoever hurt Cassie would pay for the rest of their lives.
“He'll pay. But not if we don't find out who leaked Cassie's name to the press first.”
“This is what I'm trying to tell you, dammit. I did it. I'm the leak!”
* * *
Cassie was blinded by flashbulbs firing out of control as she stepped out into the rain. She didn't remember them being here when she'd arrived earlier and wasn't sure why they'd positioned themselves here now.
Kevin gripped her arm and moved her forward toward the waiting car that would take her to her holding cell. Oh, she knew the new location would be luxurious, as the last one had been. But it would imprison her just the same. She fought wave after wave of nausea, trying desperately to keep herself from breaking down.
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